Last Days of Summer

Posted on September 20, 2005 1 Comment

It’s fashion week in Chicago which leaves me feeling a little concerned. One of the greatest perks to working downtown has always been the proximity to sales 365 days of the year. I literally never have to buy clothes at full price.

On any given day, most of my wardrobe is the result of my vicious bargain hunting skills. Today, for instance, I have on a skirt from TJ Maxx (where you get the max for the miminum price), a tee from the Gap clearance rack, a cardigan I got as a gift (that doesn’t really count, I know) and Nine West shoes from Famous Footwear. I even think my undergarments were bought from the Victoria’s Secret semi-annual clearance. Living in Chicago, I simply have no reason to buy full price. And I love it! Nothing lights up my day like a sale.

I wonder if that’s all about to change, given Mayor Daley’s enthusiasm to crown Chicago a fashion mecca and the arrival of two grand fashionistas – SJP and JLo – to kick off the festivities. Stacey and Clinton from TLC’s “What Not to Wear” even get their own receptions during Fashion Fling 2005 or whatever it’s called.

Then again, maybe if we Chicagoans can transform from our decidedly unhip look into something marketable, a la “California casual” or “New York Chic”, we’ll get some designer love in return… Barney’s sale, anyone?

…

Quick tip: If you’re ever headed out the door late with a newly pressed suit and notice that you’ve lost a hem, try duct tape. I know it sounds trashy, but I’ve hemmed my own skirts and pants with duct tape in a bind, and I’ve also saved my friend on the way to a job interview (she got the job!). Here’s how to do it:

1. Locate your slipped hemline and set the piece aside, inside seam exposed.
2. Cut small pieces of duct tape to fit over one or two areas where the thread no longer exists.
3. Tape yourself up (Use the small pieces – they’ll stay put all day. If you use one big piece your garment will look stiff and, well, duct-taped.)
4. Go, go, go!

Shopping spree: I used my monthly clothing budget this month to hit up a Gap for an AMAZING sale, where I got three new lovely fall sweaters and a pair of “curvey” corduroys for roughly $88. (I recently ruined my old cords, essential to surviving a Chicago winter, in a cleaning incident involving bleach…damn the beloved bleach (soooo clean). It gets me every time.)

Closet check: A recent inventory of my fall wardrobe revealed multiple sweaters with holes in them, causing me to reflect on the last time I actually bought a new sweater. Here’s the thing: if your sweaters are literally falling apart (and yes, I did have one of them re-stitched at the dry cleaner) or have holes, allow yourself some new ones. No need to go crazy, ’cause I know they’re very expensive. But sales are happening now at Gap, Anne Taylor Loft, Old Navy and probably tons of other stores, so it’s a good time to shop.

Heel, toe: It’s summer’s end, and all your cutesy heeled shoes are probably showing wear. Send them to the shoe doctor for cleaning, polishing and re-heeling to extend the life of your favorites. A recent trip to my shoe doc cost $6.00 for a new heel application, scuff removal (they were not fixable by polish) and that shiney finish. They looked new! I was so happy with the results that I tipped the guy for his fabulous work.

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